The project for the extension of the American university was seen as the creation of a new image for the education system in Dubai. The new building, located on the Sheik Zayed road, creates a gate towards the heart of the university while also presenting a new, contemporary image for the university campus.

Comprised of a pair of volumes, the strength of the building is the exterior space that is created between the two volumes. A rectangular roof cantilevers over a walkway beneath, providing shade for both the pedestrian path and the classrooms.

The minimalist and refined facade of the new university volumes alludes to the historic facade of the old American university building, creating a continuity of style between the two buildings. The dialogue between the two facades can be read as a metaphor for the evolution of knowledge.

The main facade, a parametrically designed surface, forms part of a dialogue between the road and the retail boutique below.